Rory McIlroy's first-round 70 at this Abu Dhabi Championship was a commendable
opening to his golfing year, writes James Corrigan

Rory McIlroy looked thoroughly baffled when he was told that Sergio García, his Ryder Cup team-mate, had labelled the rough here “dangerous”.

But then, as McIlroy’s brilliant driving had ensured he remained almost permanently on the cut stuff he was, perhaps, not the best player to ask.

McIlroy’s first-round 70 at this Abu Dhabi Championship was a commendable opening to his golfing year. The Ulsterman should have been “a few shots better” but he was not about to lament. That was left to García after a four-over 76.

Garcia required treatment on the fourth (his 13th), the physios asking him to lie down on the turf as they worked on his injured shoulder. The Spaniard will decide on Friday whether to continue, although by the tone his comments he is extremely wary.

“I would say the rough is dangerous, yes,” he said. “It’s very, very thick and what we see at a US Open but the worst thing about it they have cut it from green back to the tee, and by doing that the ball nestle’s down quite a bit. Hopefully I am the only one [who gets hurt] but unfortunately the way the course is set up it could happen to more people.”

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Garcia was not the only one. Phil Mickelson revealed he had “twinged” his back playing from the rough on his final hole (the ninth), the left-hander eventually making his only bogey after an wholly “unMickelson-esque” 17 straight pars for a 73.

He was careful not to slate the course, which may or may not have anything to do with his hefty appearance fee.

The organisers were later to claim that the rough was no different to any other year. However, it is difficult to imagine anyone getting near Martin Kaymer’s record winning total of 24 under with the leaders on five under.

“Cheeky,” was how the Scot Marc Warren described the set-up.

It was downright impertinent to Mickelson, who could not remember the last time he played a round without making a birdie.

While the Open champion struggled with his driver – a club which he claimed on the eve of this event could “give me the best year of my career” – his playing partner, McIlroy, was in consummate control, missing just one fairway.

“I drove it great today,” McIlroy said. “I’m definitely on to something with this driver-ball combination. I’m hitting it longer than I have before. If I drive it well, I play well and score well. It’s that simple.”

McIlroy was not just a contrast to Mickelson, but also to himself of a year previous. In his opening 75 of 2013 he hit one drive out of bounds and laboured through the cabbage to post a 75. Of course, that was his first tournament with Nike clubs, following his £78 million switch from Titleist.

This is his 25th tournament with Nike clubs and he has clearly returned to the comfort zone.

Even on the occasion when McIlroy did visit the rough – on the sixth (his 15th) – he almost made a birdie, his chip lipping out. But he was satisfied to make par. “It’s always nice to start a tournament, and indeed, the year, without a bogey-free round,” he said.

It left McIlroy three behind the pacesetters, England’s Matt Baldwin, France’s Romain Wattel and Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello, with a group on four under including Paul McGinley.

Luke Donald is on the same mark as McIlroy, while the surprise of the day was Henrik Stenson shooting a 74 after his incredible end to last season.